Page 253 of Reign

“Green.”

I tighten my hand around the red rope at her wrists and push inside.

I don’t bother pretending any of this is temporary.

Chapter 38

Elena

Tonight was perfect.

That sounds dramatic, but I have considered the evidence and decided it is objectively true.

Throne Kingston is officially coming off the list. I discovered that red rope looks incredible against my skin. I made Luciano lose enough of his precious control that I plan to preserve the memory for the rest of my natural life.

Most importantly, I felt safe.

Completely, impossibly safe.

My arms were bound behind me. I couldn’t reach for him, steady myself, or control what happened next. Luciano held every piece of that control, and there wasn’t a single moment when I wondered whether he would take more than I wanted to give.

He watched everything. My hands. My breathing. Every shift of my body inside the ropes. Even while his control was breaking, he never stopped taking care of mine.

Afterward, he loosened every knot slowly. He massaged the feeling back into my arms, checked every mark the rope left behind, made me drink water, and dressed me while I was boneless.

The man tied me up, used my mouth, fucked me and somehow left me feeling treasured.

That’s a problem.

Luciano is someone I would choose.

If he was an option, I wouldn’t need seven others. I wouldn’t need one.

I would just choose him.

Except Luciano doesn’t want to get married.

He told me that himself.

Angelo isn’t looking for someone I can have an undefined relationship with until Luciano remembers the future he planned before I appeared. My brother wants permanence. A husband. Someone willing to make promises solid enough to become an alliance.

He already has one with Luciano because of Adriana.

He would never approve.

I don’t even know why I’m having the stupid little fantasy about Luciano anyway.

Maybe the way he looked at me tonight doesn’t mean what I want it to mean. He’s an experienced Dom. Watching closely, anticipating needs, and making someone feel safe are things he knows how to do.

Things he’s supposed to do.

Maybe every woman beneath his hands feels like the only woman he has ever wanted there.

The thought twists unpleasantly through me.

I shove it away.

Tonight was perfect. I can let it be perfect without forcing it to become something Luciano never promised me.